On the Dolce Vita Orient Express to discover the wonders of the BelPaese
A few weeks ago, the first routes started and will soon be added to; the first stop on the route is the renovated Roma Ostiense lounge
4' min read
Key points
4' min read
On the walls are works of art and black and white photos that evoke the journey, the masterfully restored floors, the sumptuous furnishings, the bar that lights up the scene with the green of the plants reflected on the glass tables well positioned in the 200 square metre private lounge. This is how Parisian designer Hugo Toro has breathed new life into the Roma Ostiense station, celebrating its history. This is the first stage of a slow itinerary with which La Dolce Vita Orient Express takes you to discover not only iconic places like Venice and Portofino, but above all the territory that connects them. The itineraries touch 14 regions and 128 cities.
It is a dive into the beauties of Italy from North to South: Tuscany with the Val D'Orcia, Piedmont with the Langhe and Monferrato, Abruzzo with the Trans-Siberian Railway, and even the Sassi of Matera, to experience the enchantment of the city of stone and visit Naples, Tivoli, Altamura, Baroque Sicily starting from Palermo to reach treasure troves of art such as Noto, Modica, Ragusa Ibla. The trains (currently two, four in 2026 and six in 2027) are Italian State Railways carriages from the 1960s restored to their original casing and completely restored.
Each train houses 18 suites and 12 deluxe cabins, a bar, a panoramic lounge and a restaurant. The furnishings, by Milan-based Dimorestudio, are a tribute to the glamour and artistic fervour of the Italian 1960s, polished and rich in details that recall the masters Carlo Scarpa, Gio Ponti and Ignazio Gardella.
Music at the heart of entertainment
.The atmosphere heats up and comes alive with live music, a true companion throughout the journey, to the notes of Dolce Vita, Night and Day, C'est si bon. If, more than 140 years ago, the first Orient Express train embarked on a legendary journey across Europe, here, in addition to life on board, the invitation is to enjoy a glamorous and exclusive experience by travelling what is normally a four-hour journey on an eight-and-a-half-hour one, but with a decidedly higher level of gastronomy, views and glamour.
As you travel along a route whose time is diluted, absorbed by the beauty of the scenery, you leaf through and read vintage books, play backgammon, or listen to curious anecdotes about the destinations, while at each stop the journey is enriched by other experiences. When the clarinet intones Amarcord, the staff, in elegant blue and orange uniforms, is already on the platform. It is time to board. Kindness and courtesy make a 48-hour journey across half of Italy even more enjoyable, albeit on routes with little traffic and taking advantage of the night.
